Page 58 of Time Out

“Because Belle had the idea to watch the game at your house, and I’m sorry, but she made a mess, and I’m cleaning it before you get home.”

“You’re at my house?”

“Yeah… is that okay?”

I didn’t care if she threw a rave in my house. I was more surprised she’d taken me up on the offer to go there whenever she wanted. If Belle was involved, I shouldn’t have been surprised.

“So you and Belle sat around and watched football today?” I tried to imagine it.

“Yeah. Is it okay that she was here? Lance came too, so he could explain everything.”

“I said you were welcome, and they’re your friends, it’s cool. Are they still there?”

“No. Belle’s parents always throw some huge New Year’s Eve party so they just left to go get ready.”

“What are you doing?”

“Well, I was going to go home.”

“Want to spend time with me instead?”

“I figured you’d have plans with your teammates or friends or something.”

“The only thing I have planned is to take a dip in the hot tub to relax. I can do that tomorrow. Stay there for me?”

“Sure. Davis. I’ll spend New Year’s with you.”

“Good. I’ll be there in thirty minutes.”

I’d known Maggie grew up sheltered, with little access to television and internet and now video games or sports… things she quickly told me earlier her parents called the devil’s tools for causing idle hands, which I took to mean made people lazy. Couldn’t really blame them fully for that one, but I learned that she absolutely sucked at video games and looked adorable while playing them.

“Oh come on! Why do I keep crashing?”

She slammed her PlayStation controller into her lap and pouted, coming in last place for the fifth time.

“We can do something else.” After I got home, ordering Chinese takeout on my way for both of us, we ate a quick dinner.

Since I didn’t exactly have a booming supply of board games or cards, there wasn’t much else left to do once Maggie insisted she wanted to try to stay awake until midnight. After vetoing a movie she was sure would knock her out quickly, I suggested the PlayStation.

I was almost surprised she jumped at the chance to learn. I wasn’t quite sure if she was regretting it or not yet.

“Anything easier?”

“Mario Kart is about the easiest game in existence.”

“Huh.” She pouted and then shrugged it off. “All right then. Let’s keep trying. Maybe I have a sucky teacher.”

“As if.” I laughed outright. “It’s not my problem you lack hand-eye-speed coordination.”

“Says the man who missed three tackles in that last run.”

I tossed my controller onto the coffee table and leaned back against the couch. Hearing her talk about my game was a turn-on. Yeah, it happened a lot. In college for sure, girls would be tripping in their heels to throw their arms around me and be all, “Oh you’re so amazing.” “So fast.” But Maggie was actually trying to learn and she didn’t have to.

“Have you given any more thought about coming to next week’s game?”

She tugged on the corner of her lip with her teeth and shrugged. “Belle can’t go. I don’t know if I want to be alone. Would that make you mad?”

No. Not mad. Disappointed, sure. There’d be other games. Other seasons. If being alone was the only thing stopping her, I had a solution for that.

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